Florida
Small-Town Weekend Getaways from Miami Beach
Florida Keys, Treasure Coast fishing towns, and Gulf-side art colonies within a tank of gas.
At a glance
Miami Beach has 4 small-town weekend escapes, each with a full 48-hour guide to where to stay, what to do, and where to eat. Drives run from 1 hr 30 min to Islamorada and 2 hr 30 min to Matlacha. The headline draws: Theater of the Sea, Stuart Beach, Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. Most of these towns are at their best November–April.
- Escapes
- 4 towns
- Drive range
- 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes
- Closest
- Islamorada, 1 hr 30 min
- Best months
- November–April
Pick your trip
Three ways to start planning a weekend from Miami Beach.
The short version
Small towns near Miami Beach worth a 48-hour trip
South Florida weekends can go two ways: out to the Keys for turquoise and bonefish flats, or north up the coast and inland for old Florida fishing villages and art colonies. Within two to three hours you reach an Islamorada base in the middle Keys, a historic mainland fishing town, and a hidden canal art village. These are weekend trips from Miami built on water, fishing, and old-Florida character.
Islamorada (1.5 hours, mile marker 70) is the sportfishing capital of the middle Keys, with a walkable village center and a theater-of-the-sea marine park. Stuart (2 hours north) is a preserved mainland downtown on the St. Lucie River, known for its historic rehabbed main street and the Elliott Museum. Matlacha (2.5 hours) is a tiny canal village on the way to Pine Island, painted in bright Florida colors and full of galleries and fish shacks. Jupiter (1.5 hours north) is the closest base, with a lighthouse, the Loxahatchee River, and a restored inlet village.
Compare the Miami Beach escapes
Drive time, character, best season, and the one thing to do first, for every town within reach of Miami Beach.
| Town | Drive | Character | Best time | Do first |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islamorada | 1 hr 30 min | Like Key West, without the cruise ships | November–April | Theater of the Sea |
| Stuart | 1 hr 30 min | Like a small-town Key West, on the mainland | November–April | Stuart Beach |
| Jupiter | 1 hr 30 min | Like a small-town Key Largo, on the mainland | November-April | Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse |
| Matlacha | 2 hr 30 min | Like a Florida Keys town, on the Gulf | November–April | Matlacha Community Park |
On the calendar
Coming up in the Miami Beach escapes
Events happening in the small towns themselves, not the city.
Refreshed weekly
Nov 6
25th Annual Galbani Feast of Little Italy
Jupiter · Abacoa Amphitheatre
Celebrate Italian heritage with authentic food vendors, wood-fired pizza, and live entertainment in Downtown Abacoa. Visitors can pair world-class dining with coastal relaxation during a lively autumn weekend in Jupiter.
Nov 8
Market on Main
Stuart · Flagler Park in Historic Downtown Stuart
Browse local produce, artisanal baked goods, and handcrafted wares along the scenic waterfront in Historic Downtown Stuart. It provides a relaxed Sunday morning experience perfect for a coastal weekend getaway.
Dec 4
22nd Annual Islamorada Holiday Fest
Islamorada · Founders Park
Kick off the festive season in the Florida Keys with a community holiday bazaar, a parade, and a real snow mountain on the Great Lawn. It is an ideal anchor for an early-December island escape filled with local crafts and holiday cheer.
The roundup
3 Best Weekend Escapes Near Miami Beach | 48-Hour Trip Ideas
Skip the usual scene and trade Miami Beach for three underrated Florida towns that deliver water views, strong seafood, and an easy two-day reset.
Read the guide →All Miami Beach escapes
4 weekend trip ideas from Miami Beach, sorted by how far you have to drive. Vibes covered: beach, food.
1 to 2 hours
3 escapes from Miami Beach
2+ hours
1 escape from Miami Beach
What to do
The top attraction in each Miami Beach escape town, pulled straight from the 48-hour guides.
Islamorada
Theater of the Sea
Swim with dolphins and sea lions in a natural lagoon, $35 for general admission. Marine shows since 1946, one of the oldest in Florida.
Stuart
Stuart Beach
Free. Uncrowded, with a fishing pier and the House of Refuge museum next door, the last of 10 shipwreck rescue stations built in 1876.
Matlacha
Matlacha Community Park
Free. Fish off the bridge into town. The water is clear enough to see mullet and manatees. Bring your own pole.
Jupiter
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
$20. 108 steps to the top of a 105-foot 1860 lighthouse. The view spans the inlet, the ocean, and the Intracoastal. 45-minute tour. Closed Monday. Reserve ahead.
Questions & Answers
Miami Beach weekend FAQ
Jupiter (1.5 hours), Islamorada (1.5 hours in the middle Keys), Stuart (2 hours), and Matlacha (2.5 hours) are the strongest small-town escapes from Miami, spanning the Keys and old-Florida mainland coast.
Islamorada, about 1.5 hours south of Miami at mile marker 70, is the first true village stop in the Keys with a walkable center and is known as the sportfishing capital of the world.
Stuart and Matlacha, both 2 to 2.5 hours from Miami, are the strongest old-Florida escapes, a preserved river downtown and a brightly painted canal art village respectively, far from the high-rise coast.
Jupiter (1.5 hours, lighthouse and sandbars), Islamorada (1.5 hours, sportfishing in the middle Keys), Stuart (2 hours, a walkable riverfront downtown), and Matlacha (2.5 hours, a painted Gulf art village) are the strongest weekend getaway ideas near Miami.
Jupiter is the closest last minute weekend getaway from Miami at 90 minutes north on I-95, with a lighthouse, the Loxahatchee River, and inlet sandbars. Islamorada, 90 minutes south in the Keys, is the other easy last minute escape.
Stuart and Matlacha are the most affordable weekend getaways near Miami, both 2 to 2.5 hours out, with inns under $200 a night and free river and beach access, far cheaper than the Keys or South Beach.
Islamorada, with Cheeca Lodge, a private beach, and sunset dinners, and Jupiter, with an oceanfront resort, sandbar picnics, and waterfront tiki bars, are the best couples weekend trips near Miami.
Matlacha and the Pine Island coast (2.5 hours west) and Stuart and the Treasure Coast (2 hours north) are the best long weekend road trips from Miami, each worth 3 days for the drive, the town, and a full day on the water.
Islamorada is 1 hr 30 min from Miami Beach; Stuart is 1 hr 30 min from Miami Beach; Jupiter is 1 hr 30 min from Miami Beach; Matlacha is 2 hr 30 min from Miami Beach.
Islamorada: November–April; Stuart: November–April; Jupiter: November-April; Matlacha: November–April.
The escapes split by mood: beach (Islamorada, Stuart, Jupiter, Matlacha); food (Islamorada, Stuart, Jupiter, Matlacha). Every one is a 48-hour trip with specific places to stay, visit, and eat.